Result:
Arsenal 2 - Brondby 2 (Arsenal 4-3 on aggregate)
Team:
Seaman,
Dixon (Bould) Adams Keown Winterburn
Merson Parlour Selley Jensen
Smith Wright (Campbell)
A very tense night at Highbury as the CWC nearly disappeared. Dixon
and Winterburn played but didn't look fit. Wright also didn't look
to fit. Jensen and Selley were in midfield with Parlour. Smith
and Merson made up the numbers. Things look promising for about a
minute. Selley's shot was well saved by the keeper. Within two
minutes the ball was played inside Winterburn the ball pulled accross
the face of the goal for an easy tap in. Not exactly the ideal start.
Brondby threatened every time they came forward and looked the better
side. We got back into things after a big scramble saw Adams hauled
to the ground. Wright hammered home the penalty. Wright then missed
a glourious chance failing to convert after Parlour had charged his
was to the edge of the box and put in a perfect ball to the far post.
Still 1-1 at half time looked like we might be able to relax slightly
in the second half. Within two minutes of the restart Wright got
on the end of a cross from the right and knocked the ball sideways to
Selley. Selley promptly thundered the ball into the net. Surely we
could all relax now. Seaman made a hash of a shot that rolled along
the line. Luckily Dixon was alert as ever and managed to screw the
ball of the line. Things were beginning to looke a bit dodgy. Dixon
was replaced by Bould and Wright by Campbell. Bould's first touch
nearly let Brondby through the middle but they didn't have to wait
long for another goal. A harsh free kick was given away just outside
the right hand edge of the box. The cross was well delevired to the
far post and buried into the net by the oncoming forward. Not entirely
unlike the traditional Arsenal goal that we know and love. THe last
twenty minutes were becoming unbearably tense. Merson had a chance to
ease the nerves when he finally managed to break the offside trap and
raced clear on goal. He however shot pitifully at the keeper though
in fairness the support was very late in getting forward. Of course
why we should be fair to Merson who was absolutrly atrocious I've no
idea. Brondby continued to attack and looked very dangerous. Every
chance we had to break either ended in a sad mishit pass or with
Smith getting the ball and heading back towards Dave in goal. Parlour
worked exceptionally hard and continued to give them problems down the
right hand side. Right near the end, from a Brondby corner that Bould
flicked on in the usual manner, nearly came our demise. Luckily the
free header in the middle was directed straight at Seaman. Smith
managed to conjure up a fine miss as well volleying tamely at the
keeper from 10 yards out when completely free in the middle. Winterbrun
made a break in the dying seconds and due to the lack of help managed
to run straight to the corner flag to pretty well see out time. A huge
roar of releif greeted the final whistle. Not a very good performance.
But then again were through which is the important thing.
Report by Trev Collins
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